Welcome to Headway East London s Community Support Workers Service

Transcription

1 Welcome to Headway East London s Community Support Workers Service Thank you for your interest in joining the Headway East London (Headway) Community Support Worker Service. THE WORK OF HEADWAY EAST LONDON Headway is a voluntary organisation based in Hackney. It is affiliated to the national organisation, Headway the brain injury association. It was first established in 1997 through the efforts of people directly affected by Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and professionals working in neurological rehabilitation. They recognised that there was an absence of longterm support and services following discharge from hospital. Our primary objective is to support people with ABI as they seek to come to terms with their injury, to re-integrate into family and community life, including returning to work and/or training, and to maximise their opportunities and choices. Headway opened its day service, the Headway House in March 1998, and now runs a variety of services. The Headway House is open five days a week and acts as the hub for all the other services which include outreach, family and carers support, a volunteering programme, occupational programmes, a young people s network, therapy services and most recently a community support workers service - see specific service outlines for more information on individual services. Importantly, Headway is not just a provider of professional services it is a community. Around 180 people visit the Headway House on a weekly basis. Of these about 70% have an acquired brain injury; the other 30% are made up of staff and volunteers. It is well documented that people do better if they are included as collaborators rather than seen solely as recipients of services. Headway has adopted a co-productive model of working where members, volunteers and staff work together to produce the service. Everyone is encouraged to contribute something to the community in accordance with their level of ability. Members with ABI take up meaningful roles and responsibilities that they can feel proud of these include guiding visitors and new members around the centre, facilitating discussion groups, taking part in learning events for professionals (as experts on living with ABI), editing

2 and contributing to the members newsletter, working in the Headway café, making films documenting disability issues, writing their story and assisting with administrative tasks. Having a role improves self-esteem and increases people s sense of self-worth. Over the last few years, Headway has also developed a range of in-house therapies these include neurological physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, exercise therapy, and other complementary therapies such as yoga and craniosacral therapy. This has assisted members in addressing some of the physical, emotional and cognitive effects that they are struggling to cope with following a brain injury. We have been running the community support workers service since the end of At Headway we pride ourselves on providing the best support we can not only to our clients, but also to our staff. We take steps to ensure every member of our team is given opportunities to continually learn new skills and enhance the skills they already have, through training and guidance. All of our support workers are employed on a highly flexible contract basis. This leaflet is designed to welcome you to Headway and explain some of the processes that are in place to ensure your recruitment into the community support team. Joining the Headway team We ensure that each applicant for the position of support worker is carefully reviewed and taken through each process. After your initial enquiry you will be asked to fill out an application form (attached with this information pack). If you are successful you will be invited for an informal interview. Following a successful interview we will organise CRB clearance and you will be invited to undertake training and induction at the Headway House. Headways rates of pay are highly competitive as we value the work that support workers undertake. All staff salaries are reviewed on an annual basis and there is always the opportunity for advancement and increases in pay for those that demonstrate exceptional ability. Headway is an equal opportunities employer and like our clients, each member of staff brings their own background, interests, personalities and culture to our diverse team. Headway also run on-going training throughout the year to ensure everyone has the opportunity to update and extend their knowledge and understanding. Opportunities for training will be sent to you and if you would like to participate please contact the Community Support Development Manager to book yourself on a course. COMMUNICATION At Headway we have high expectations of all our team members and believe an important aspect of being part of the team is to show respect, not only to our clients but also to all other team members. If at any time you are unable to make an appointment, or will be late in meeting one of the team please call the Headway office and let someone know.

3 Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) The DBS check is a legal requirement for everyone that works in the social care sector. If you would like to find out more about the DBS, please take a look at their website: or call them on NEXT STAGE At Headway we are always looking to welcome new faces to the team. If you would like to apply to work for Headway please complete our application form. If you have any further queries, please contact Muriel Kelly or Natasha Lockyer on Tues to Thurs 9.00am 4.30 pm or muriel.kelly@headwayeastlondon.org or alternatively natasha.lockyer@headwayeastlondon.org. CONTACT DETAILS Headway East London Bradbury House Timber Wharf Block B Kingsland Road London E2 8AX Tel Web. Registered Charity No Company Registration No Affiliated to Headway the brain injury association

4 Job Title: Service: Contract: Responsible to: Line manager: Main Purpose: General Duties: Headway East London Job Description Community Support Worker Support Worker Services (SWS) Casual Support Worker Service Manager Support Worker Service Manager Responsibility for supporting people in the community, as part of the Headway East London (HEL) Support Worker Service (SWS) 1. Support clients with acquired brain injuries to maximise or maintain their autonomy and independence in their home environment and their community, 2. Assist clients to plan and organise their daily activities including accompanying them to appointments with health and statutory care providers. 3. Support clients to access the community: including educational, social, leisure, physical and vocational activities. 4. Support clients to develop and maintain a daily and weekly structure which promotes their wellbeing (this may include helping them to monitor their health, helping them with budgeting, meal planning, engaging in exercise, and participation in activities in the community) 5. Support clients in maximising their income through benefit entitlement and budgeting. 6. Support clients to complete relevant statutory paperwork. 7. Provide appropriate and relevant advice, information and advocacy, to clients and their families, in conjunction with the other HEL staff. 8. Make appropriate referrals to other HEL services, social services, community rehabilitation teams, other voluntary services and / or any other relevant support services. 9. Liaise with HEL Day Service key working and therapy staff, professionals from statutory and non-statutory organisations as appropriate. 10. Ensure that clients are engaged collaboratively in the delivery of their support activities. 11. Implement and monitor specific support / rehabilitation and risk management plans, and provide appropriate feedback. 12. Maintain accurate and up to date records and monitoring documentation on all support work undertaken. This may include summaries of support work. 13. Seek and engage in regular supervision with the Support Worker Service Manager and attend SWS team meetings, as required. 14. Report to the Support Worker Service Manager. 15. Any other duties that may reasonably be required. This job description outlines the current main responsibilities of the post, however, the duties of the post may change and develop over time and the job description may be amended in consultation with the post holder

5 Headway East London Person Specification Community Support Worker Essential Desirable Experience 1. Experience of working as part of a team of staff and volunteers 2. Experience of working with people who have physical, cognitive, psychological or learning needs. 1. Experience of working with people with acquired brain injury 2. Experience of working on community projects 3. Experience of working alone Skills, Knowledge and Abilities 1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills 2. Excellent organisational skills 3. Ability to self-motivate and use initiative 4. Ability to problem solve and priortise 5. Good literacy and numeracy skills 6. Ability to learn quickly 7. Ability to work under pressure and to stay calm in stressful situations 8. Ability to relate well to people from different backgrounds on a one-to-one basis 1. Knowledge of acquired brain injury and its effects 2. Knowledge and understanding of the demographic Headway East London serves 3. Advocacy skills / training 4. Knowledge of statutory and non-statutory organisations and services (i.e. CIB, Health and Social Care, other charities, community resources) 5. Knowledge of safe guarding issues 9. Ability to listen and be empathetic to others situations 10. Ability to implement and monitor specific support / rehabilitation and risk management plans 11.Computer literacy including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Other Requirements 1. Be personally and professionally responsible 1. Awareness of issues on disability and social exclusion 2. Ability to seek supervision and report

6 incidences appropriately 3. A commitment to team working 4. Flexible, adaptable and reliable 5. A commitment to equal opportunities 6. Willingness to work occasional evenings 7. Sense of humour 8. Ability to carry out independent research of relevant community services and activities